Cotton linter



March 29, 1938. C* R'CARR 2,112,435

COTTON LINTER Filed April 6, 1936 2 SheeS-Shee'l'l 2 Patented Mar. 29,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE COTTON LINTER of Texas ApplicationApril 6, 1936, Serial No. 72,929

7 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to new and useful improvements in cottonlinters.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism forcotton linters, whereby the position of the linter brush and the backwind board, or stripper, may be positively controlled. An importantobject of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for linterswhich is adapted to be connected with thelinter brush and with the windboard of the linter, whereby said brush and board may be simultaneouslyadjusted with relation to the linter saws, or individually adjusted withrelation to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism forlinters which is manually operable from the exterior of the linter,whereby the linter brush and back wind board of the linter may be movedinto various adjusted positions without the necessity of gainlng accessto the interior of the linter, whereby the adjustments may be made morereadily during operation, and with no danger to the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to pro--V vide an improvedmounting for the brush and back wind board of a linter, which is soconstructed that a very fine adjustment of the brush with relation tothe linter saws and a fine ad justment of the parts with relation toeach other may be easily accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cottonlinter having a windboard which is so constructed that it may beadjusted in a horizontal plane with relation to the linter brush,whereby an increased stripping action is had.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with the other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of a cotton linter,having an adjusting mechanism, constructed in accordance with theinvention applied to the brush and wind board thereof,

Figure 2 is a View, similar to Figure 1, showing the shaft bearing incross-section,

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical View taken through the linter brushAandwind board,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 44 ofFigure l, and

Figure 5 is a partial, isometric view, showing one end of the wind boardand its connection with the adjusting screw.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a portion of a linter framewhich may be of any 5 desired construction. The entire linter has notbeen shown because it is believed that the inventio-n will be readilyunderstood without such showing. The usual linter saws II and brush I2which is located behind said saws, are mountl0 ed transversely withinthe frame. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the periphery of the brushrevolves in close proximity to the saws I I, whereby said saws are keptclean. It is noted that for eiicient operation, the proper distance orspace l5 between the saws and brush must be maintained. Since the sawsWear, and for various other reasons, the brush must be constantlyadjusted.

To provide for a `quick and easy adjustment of the brush I2 withrelation to the saws, said brush is .carried by a transverse shaft I3which has its outer ends extending through the walls of the linter frameI0. These outer extended ends of the shaft I3 are journaled in bearingboxes I4 which rest on outwardly directed flanges I0 onopposite sides ofthe linter frame I0. Each bearing box is held in position on the ilangeby stud bolts I5 which pass through slots I6 in saidiiange. The boltsare threaded in the base III of the box (Figure 1) and receive nuts I1on their lower ends. It is obvious that when the nuts are loosened onthe bolts the bearing boxes I4 may be moved horizontally along theflanges I Il. This horizontal movement of the boxes will move the brushshaft' I3 and brush I2 accordingly, whereby an adjustment of the brushwith relation to the saws II may be accomplished.

For readily sliding each bearing box I4 to make the desired adjustment,a horizontally extending bar I8 is provided. The inner end of this barlies contiguous to the underside of the flange I0 and is provided withan opening I9 through which the rearmost bolt I5 extends. It will beseen that as the bar is moved, with the nuts I'I loosened, the bearingbox I4 is slid on the flange IU.

The outer end of the bar I8 is formed with a threaded shank or rod 20,'which is preferably made integral therewith. This rod extends rear- 5wardly of the linter frame and passes through an opening 2| formed inthe outwardly extend-V ing vertical flange 2| of the linter frame. Locknuts 22 are threaded on the rod on each side of 4the ilange, and whensaid nuts engage the 55 flange, the rod 20 and bar I8 are locked in animmovable position, which in turn, holds the box I4, brush shaft I3 andbrush I2 in an immovable position. To move said shaft, it is onlynecessary to change the position of the nuts 22 on the rod 20, wherebysaid rod and bar I8 may be moved. It is noted that after the nuts 22have engaged the ange 2I, the bar I8, brush shaft and brush are heldimmovable. To further clamp the bearing boxes to hold the shaft andbrush in an adjusted position, the nuts I1 are tightened on the studbolts.

From the above, it will be seen that a simple and positive adjustment ofthe linter brush is provided. Also the brush may be moved any desireddistance and, therefore, a ne adjustment of the brush with relation tothe saw is had. This fine adjustment makes for increased efficiency ofthe linter.

In the rear portion of the linter behind the brush II, a suitable windboard, or stripper 25 is provided. This wind board may be of any desiredconstruction but it is preferably box-like, being formed of a pair ofangular members 26 and 21' which are secured together in any suitablemanner. The members are preferably formed of sheet metal and alongitudinal vertical ange 21 is formed along the top of the wind board,while a longitudinal substantially horizontal flange 26' is formed alongthe lower edge of the same.

The bottom of the wind board is inclined, as is clearly shown inFiguresv 3 and 5, and a transverse sheet 28 is disposed parallel to thisbottom, being spaced therefrom by a suitable filler 28'. This sheetextends the entire length of the board and is fastened to the board byrivets 29. A flexible transverse supporting member 30, has its rear endsecured to the rear of the linter frame and extends forwardlyr therefromand between the bottom of the board and the sheet 28. The member is ofthe same length as the board and has its forward end disposed at thesame inclination as the inclination of the bottom of the board, wherebythis inclined end readily fits in the space between the bottom and thesheet 28. The forward end of the member terminates short of the forwardend of the board (Figure 3). With this arrangement, it is obvious thatthe entire board 25 is slidably mounted on the member and may be movedwith relation thereto. The windboard thus constructed is cheap inmanufacture, and also presents a thin edge adjacent the brush.

To support the windboard within the linter and also to guide said boardin a horizontal movement on the supporting member, a plurality of blocks32 are fastened on the top of the board adjacent the vertical ange 21.One of these blocks is mounted at each end of the board, while anydesired number may be mounted at intervals therebetween.

Each block is formed with a horizontal opening 33 which extendscompletely therethrough. A guide bolt 34 extends from the rear of thelinter frame IU and passes through the ange 21 and opening 33, and hasits other end passing through an angle bar 35 of the frame Ill. A nut 36is screwed onto the end of each bolt 34. Thus, it will be seen` that asthe windboard 25 is moved, the bolts 34 guide the board in a horizontaldirection.` The supporting member 3l0 is suiciently iiexible so that asthe board is moved, the member flexes to permit the board to travel in ahorizontal plane. It is noted that horizontal movement of said windboard changes its position with relation to the linter brush I2, wherebya very fine adjustment may be made.

For moving the wind board along its supporting members, an adjusting arm3'! (Figure 5) is mounted on each end of the wind board exteriorly ofthe linter. Each arm is journaled on the outer end of a bolt 38, whichbolt passes through a horizontal slot 39 (Figure 1) in the side wall ofthe linter. The inner end of each bolt is screwed into a threadedopening 40 in the end block 32. The lower end of the arm carries acollar 4I, preferably made integral therewith, and this collar isslidable on the threaded shank or rod 20. A pair of nuts 42 one on eachside of the collar are threaded on the rod 20 to hold the collar invarious positions thereon.

From the above, it will be seen that by tightening the nuts 42 againstthe collar 4I and then moving said rod, both the linter brush I2 andwind board 25 may be moved simultaneously. In such case, the position ofthe board with relation to the brush does not change. If it is desiredto adjust only the brush, the nuts 42 are moved away from the collar 4Iand the rod 20 moved through the collar, whereby the wind board remainsstationary while the brush is moved. Similarly, if it is` desired tomove the wind board alone, the rod 2i) remains in its locked positionwhile the nuts 42 are moved away from the collar 4I on the rodi` and thecollar 4I is slid therealong to move the wind board, after which thenuts are again tightened against the collar 4I. Therefore, the mechanismpermits the brush and wind board to be moved either simultaneously orseparately from each other. All adjustments are made exteriorly of thelinter, thereby obviating the necessity of gaining access to theinterior. Minor adjustments may be made while the'linter is inoperation, whereby it is not necessary to halt the operation of thelinter, which results in a great saving of time as well as minimizingthe possibility of injury to the operator.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. 'Ihe combination in a linter having a horizontally movable linterbrush and a relatively adjustable wind board, of a mounting including,an adjusting element connected with said brush for moving and holdingthe same, means for adjust-ably connecting the wind board with saidadjusting element, whereby said brush and board may either be moved andadjusted simultaneously or independently of each other, and means forlocking the adjusting element in position to lock the brush and board invarious adjusted positions.

2. In a cotton linter, a mounting for the linter brush and wind board of.said linter including, movable means connected with the brush formoving and adjusting the same within the linter with relation to the:saw element thereof, an adjustable connection between the windboard andsaid movable means whereby the brush and wind board may be moved andadjusted either simultaneously or independently of each other, and meansfor locking the movable means in position to lock the brush and board invarious adjusted positions.

3. In a cotton linter7 an adjustable brush cooperative with the sawelements of the linter, a windboard adjustable with relation to thebrush, an adjusting element located on the linter frame, connected tothe brush and having provision for adjustably fastening said element tothe frame whereby to adjust and hold the brush in position,

and connecting means for adjustably fastening the windboard to saidadjusting element whereby the windboard may be adjusted with relation tothe brush and the brush and windboard moved individually or together.

4. In a cotton linter, the combination of a brush adjustable withrelation to the saw elements, a windboard adjustable with relation tothe brush, adjusting means located externally on the linter frame andconnected to the brush, means for locking said adjusting means to theframe to hold the brush in adjusted position, and external meansadjustably connecting the windboard to said adjusting means whereby toadjust the windboard with relation to the brush and so that the brushand windboard may be moved individually or together.

5. In a cotton linter, a mounting for the linter brush and windboardincluding, bearings movably mounted on the linter frame and supportingthe shaft of the brush, movable supports carrying the windboard, aseparate adjusting element connected to each of said shaft supportingbearings, means for adjustably fastening said adjusting elements to thelinter frame, and means for adjustably connecting the movable supportsof the windboard to said adjusting elements, whereby to adjust thewindboard with relation to the brush and so that the brush and windboardmay be moved individually or together.

6. In a cotton linter, a transverse shaft, a brush carried by the shaft,bearings slidably mounted on the linter frame and supporting the endportions of said shaft, a windboard having an inclined bottom portionslidably mounted on a flexible support attached to the linter frame, the

upper portion of said windboard being slidable on horizontal guidemembers on the frame and having end projections extended through slotsprovided therefor in the opposite sides of the frame, adjusting elementslocated externally of the frame, 'connected to the bearings of the brushshaft and having provision for .adjustably fastening said elements tothe frame whereby to adjust and hold the brush in position, and meansfor adjustably connecting the windboard end projections to saidadjusting elements whereby the windboard may be adjusted with relationto the brush and the brush and windboard moved individually or together.

7. In a cotton linter, an adjustable brush having shaft bearings on thesides of the linter frame, a windboard adjustable with relation to thebrush, said windboard comprising a box-like structure including a pairof angular members and having a iiat top and an inclined bottom slidableon an inclined flexible plate secured to the linter frame, supports forthe upper portion of the windboard slidably mounted on horizontal guidebolts on the frame, projections on the endmost upper supports of thewindboard extending through slots provided therefor in the oppositesides of theframe, adjusting bars located externally of the frame,connected to the shaft bearings of the brush and having screw-threadedportions extended through openings in the frame, lock nuts arranged onthe screw-threaded portions of said bars to engage the frame toreleasably and adjustably lock the bars thereto, adjusting arms attachedat their upper ends to the end projections of the windboard and havingcollars at their lower ends sleeved freely slidable on thescrew-threaded portions of said adjusting bars, and lock nuts arrangedon the bars to engage the opposite ends of the collars of said adjustingarms to releasably and adjustably lock the arms to the bars.

CHARLES R. CARR.

